Theatre Of Hate - The Complete Singles Collection

"The Complete Singles Collection" by Theatre of Hate is a compilation that gathers the band's singles, showcasing their unique blend of punk, ska, and rockabilly influences. The collection includes both A and B sides of their UK singles, offering a chronological overview of their career. While praised for its completeness and inclusion of early material like "Original Sin." "The Complete Singles Collection" is a valuable addition for fans of Theatre of Hate, offering a comprehensive look at their singles output. However, the absence of certain versions and the sound quality concerns may disappoint some listeners. Despite these issues, the collection remains a significant document of the band's career. 

Review by Amy Hanson

Irreverent masters of Burundi beat crossed with manic gypsy squeezebox and surf-alicious guitar, Kirk Brandon and his Theatre of Hate jostled and tousled their way merrily through the gleaming black bones of post-punk melancholia with an irreverent mix of boots, loops, and sax solos that rolled off tongues like so many brain-crushing downers. With Theatre of Hate now grossly considered little more than a two-year afterthought sandwiched between Brandon's earlier Pack incarnation and the more popular Spear of Destiny, The Complete Singles Collection is, of course, pretty self-explanatory, with a few welcome surprises. The bulk of the set unreels both A- and B-sides of Theatre of Hate's complete U.K. singles catalog in chronological order. From the band's 1980 "Original Sin" debut, which is reprised later on via the 12" re-recording that accompanied the one-two punch of "Do You Believe in the Westworld" and "Propaganda" two years later, on to the final singles "The Hop" and "Eastworld," Theatre of Hate's entire career is plastered across 14 songs. It's a nice tight package that only suffers from the gross substitution of the 7" version of "Do You Believe in the Westworld" for the grandiloquently over the top 12" mix. But no matter, listeners are placated with the marvelous "Poppies" instead. And, for those damning the depletion of their own vinyl singles collections, the real surprise comes in the form of seven classic Pack tracks, as the singles "Brave New Soldiers" and "King of Kings" are joined by both their B-sides and the biting, subversive "Thalidomide," "St. Teresa," and "Abattoir." It's a treat for the rabid Brandon-ophile, even if the caterwauling chaos probably won't be much tolerated by late-era SOD spanglers. Too bad for them, though, as this compilation blueprints the sticky beginning of mid-'80s over-ruffled wannabes. The truth doesn't hurt, it sizzles.

Ripped to MP3

1 - Original Sin

2 - Legion

3 - Rebel Without a Brain

4 - My Own Invention

5 - Nero

6 - Incinerator

7 - Do You Believe in the Westworld (7")

8 - Propaganda (7")

9 - Original Sin (Re-Recording) (Version)

10 - The Hop

11 - Conquistador

12 - Eastworld

13 - Assegai

14 - Poppies

15 - The Pack - Brave New Soldiers

16 - The Pack - Heathen

17 - The Pack - King of Kings

18 - The Pack - Number 12

19 - The Pack - Thalidomide

20 - The Pack - St. Teresa

21 - The Pack - Abattoir